Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 45 Daily Life in the Stable
The day after the competition.

"Time to take a shower, Oh-chan."

Ogawa Masaru stuck his head through the gate and spoke in the softest voice possible.

He was greeted by the figure of the chestnut horse huddled in the corner, motionless.

In fact, it’s not so dirty that I have to take a shower.

Ocean Fleet2024 is not the kind of horse that likes to make a fuss.

Even if they are frightened, they often just stay where they are or look for a nearby corner to hide.

Compared to Medaipei who often gets himself covered in dust and has to take a bath every one or two weeks, Ocean Fleet2024 usually stays relatively clean.

It's the type where even if you don't take a bath for a month or two, there won't be any obvious signs.

However, Ogawa Sheng still strictly follows the schedule set by his father and regularly cleans every horse in the stable.

Today is the day for Ocean Fleet2024 to take a bath.

"Be good, let's go take a shower."

Slowly approaching the corner, it didn't take much effort to successfully fasten the leash.

After spending these days together, Ocean Fleet2024 is no longer as averse to getting along with him as it was at the beginning.

Of course, too close contact is still not acceptable.

The journey to the bathroom with Ocean Fleet2024 was smooth.

However, it is likely that things will not be the same next time.

The petite chestnut horse, who was afraid of most things, naturally also rejected bathing.

It's not that I hate taking a bath itself, but I'm afraid of things like shower heads, rags, brushes, etc.

In this regard, the solution given by Ogawa Jang is still desensitization training.

However, at least until desensitization is completed, taking a bath will be a somewhat difficult task for Ocean Fleet2024 and Ogawa Masaru.

After fastening the leash, the boy first took out his cell phone.

Select a piece of music with a soothing rhythm and click play.

Instead of using the shower head right away, he gently wiped his head with a cloth dampened with water.

The chestnut horse's lips trembled slightly, but he still closed his eyes obediently.

After Ocean Fleet2024 was almost relaxed, he aimed the shower head, which had been deliberately turned down, at the chestnut horse's body.

The next moment, Ocean Fleet2024 let out a sharp scream like a pig being slaughtered.

"Good boy~Good boy."

Ogawa Katsu had no choice but to use one hand to hold the chestnut horse's head and stroke it back and forth, trying to calm its emotions in this way.

However, it doesn't seem to be very effective.

Moreover, it is quite strenuous.

After a while, his arms were filled with numbness and soreness.

But if you let go, Ocean Fleet2024's head will start shaking restlessly again.

I had no choice but to maintain this posture.

After finishing rinsing the area above the neck, Ogawa Katsu temporarily put down the shower head.

Ocean Fleet2024 then raised its head and hummed with a hint of grievance.

However, Erduo still had no intention of carrying it on his back.

It seems that because of the pain of dealing with the white horse, I felt particularly relaxed when bathing Ocean Fleet2024.

It won't suddenly raise its hoof to kick someone, or take something away when he isn't paying attention.

When cleaning the sole of the hoof, even if they are a little reluctant, they will lift it up obediently.

"Finish--"

After combing his mane neatly, Xuhe Sheng let out a satisfied exclamation.

It only takes two-thirds of the time it takes to play with Mu Baima!

Sooner or later, even Medaihira will be able to deal with it calmly.

Ogawa Sheng thought so.

However, after taking a shower, Ocean Fleet2024 looked completely depressed.

"Okay, you can go back now."

He spoke softly, patting the chestnut horse's head.

Ocean Fleet2024 reluctantly shook off his hand. Even the carrot chunk that was stuffed into her mouth as a reward was pushed away.

The relationship that had finally been improved seemed to be heading towards deterioration.

In this regard, Ogawa Katsuya can only hope that his father will show his true ability and complete Oh-chan's desensitization training as soon as possible.

Back in the stable, the chestnut horse hid in a familiar corner as soon as the leash was untied.

"Come and eat, oh-chan——"

Xu Hesheng grabbed a handful of fresh grass and shook it in his hand.

Turning his head, Ocean Fleet2024 did not seem to be tempted by the grass.

She even turned to face the wall and pointed her butt at Ogawa Katsu.

Although I still haven't turned my ears, I can definitely feel that he is angry.

I guess I'm really hated.

"Then I'll put it here for now."

Scratching his head, he put the grass into the food bowl.

Then he closed the gate and left the stable.

After a while, Ocean Fleet2024 quietly turned its head.

The ears also twisted to the front position.

After confirming that Ogawa Katsu had left, he slowly moved towards the food bowl.

Then, he buried his head in the food bowl with peace of mind.

Next to the surveillance camera, Kana Ogawa's eyes curved into crescent shapes.

She captured the video and downloaded it to her phone.

While uploading it to the official account of the ranch, a copy was also sent to Kitano on LINE.

After a while, I received a reply from Kitano with an emoticon of a Q-version horse with a thumbs-up.

"Tsk, not doing your job."

Taking out his cell phone, Xu Hesheng curled his lips in disdain.

However, he still used his private account to forward the video that Kanna Ogawa had just posted.

I gave it a thumbs up by the way.

Then, the young man opened the gate in front of him.

The sturdy deer-hair mare lay motionless in the stable, in a daze.

Even if someone broke into the stable, there was no intention of moving.

Ogawa Masaru first squatted down to check the condition of Mejiro Sakuya's legs.

Nothing seems out of the ordinary.

Temperature on palpation was normal.

The newly installed floor heating system also seems to be working well.

The feed bucket was lifted only after the inspection was completed.

"Eat your flax seeds well, Sakuya."

As he spoke, he poured the pre-mixed feed into the food bowl.

As he lowered his head to clean the litter, Mejiro Sakuya seemed to have just reacted and slowly walked towards the food bowl.

Then, he began to eat at the same slow pace.

He often stares blankly, and doesn't like to move much whether he is grazing or in the stable.

Although more attention needs to be paid during normal training, the training itself is neither the type that requires too much worry nor the type that makes people feel overwhelmed.

Outside the racetrack, Mejiro Sakuya is just such an ordinary looking horse except for his gentle personality.

If there is anything special about it, it is probably that its attention is easily distracted by food, or carrots.

Every time carrots are added to the feed, it seems that the eating speed will increase slightly.

Although he needs careful care due to his limp leg, Ogawa Masaru feels a brief sense of relaxation when spending time with Mejiro Sakuya.

The scene of him standing in the stable doing nothing and watching Mejiro Sakuya eat continued for a long time.

Then, he let out a sigh of satisfaction.

(End of this chapter)